23 Jun 2019

Marulamantsi Councillor and deputy chairperson of the physical planning committee, Sergeant Kgosietsile has withdrawn the motion he brought before the council ‘that Gaborone City Council should resolve to request the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for a special dispensation to increase the penalty charge for stray livestock roaming the city as a matter of urgency.’

This came after town clerk Terrence told the council that the act was yet to be renewed and was at an advanced stage, of which there cannot be an increment until the renewal.

Supporting his viewpoint, Mr Kgosietsile told the council that there were a lot of accidents happening due to livestock despite the elongated release of the amended act.

He said the city council had, during several council meetings, raised concerns over stray animals, but up to now there were no strict measures in place. 

“Increasing the penalty charge for stray livestock would have solved the issue at hand, many farmers are bringing their livestock to the city on purpose as the charges are low, whereas they are being fed,” he said.

Mr Kgosietsile indicated that the issue of stray animals roaming the streets was among the council’s challenges, which made it difficult to keep the city environment orderly. 

He pleaded with the council to see how to speed up the act renewal process as accidents were rife.

“The cattle and the donkeys are not waiting for the act to be renewed, people are still getting injured and some are even losing their lives while we await the act,” he said.

Gaborone South Councillor, James Matlhogojane asked the council to work hard to ensure that the ministry releases the act because the issue of stray livestock was long overdue. 

“We cannot afford to be dragging the case of stray livestock in the city as if we are happy about it, the society is looking up to us to take action so let us work together with the ministry and bring a solution,” he said. 

The city Mayor, Mr Kagiso Thutlwe expressed concern about the issue, but said he could not take the law into his own hands. “I hear and understand the concerns very well, but do understand that we have procedures governing us, hence the cause of delay on some instances,” he said.

He however said that he would work tirelessly in ensuring that this issue is solved and the city gets its dignity back with no livestock roaming around.

A concerned Gaborone resident Ms Oabile Thema said the issue of stray livestock hindered free driving. 

She said residents were looking up to the council to take action.

“I wonder why the council is not charging these negligent farmers high amounts or imprison them so that they remove their livestock from the city,” she said

While she appreciates the challenges faced by livestock owners, she said it was challenging to have cattle wandering on the motorways of the city. 

“This shows that there is a serious problem.

It is not safe to be having cattle roaming in the city of all places as if we are in a cattle post,” she said.

Another resident at Block 8, Ms Victoria Khoza shared thesame sentiments, and said stray livestock d problems in homesteads and cause many accidents around the city.

“The donkeys, cattle and goats that are all over Gaborone are giving us a tough time.

We drive fearful of causing accidents as these animals are always there, day and night,” she said. Ends